12:50, 07 Nov 2025, updated 12:50, 07 Nov 2025 By ISAAN KHAN, REPORTER

Mikel Arteta cryptically hinted that one of his five stricken Arsenal forwards could make a surprise return against Sunderland on Saturday.

The Gunners have a plethora of attackers out injured, including Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus.

Jesus has only just returned to first-team training this week after 10 months out with a knee injury and is not in contention.

But when asked about if the other five players are all unavailable for Saturday, Arteta said: 'I cannot confirm all of that, but you are not far (off).'

On whether they will all be back for after the international break, he added: 'Some of them, all of them I don't know. There are a lot of things that have to happen in the next two weeks, and everything has to be perfect, but I think we'll be very close with most of them to be in a really strong position.'

Arteta also suggested that Myles Lewis-Skelly's England squad omission could be a blessing in disguise.

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